The Devil’s Anger

Revelation 12

The Battle We're Winning: Finding Hope in the Face of Evil

In a world that often feels chaotic and filled with darkness, it's easy to become disheartened. We see injustice, suffering, and wickedness all around us. But what if I told you that despite appearances, we're actually on the winning side of an cosmic battle? That the enemy we face has already been defeated, and his time is running short?

This profound truth is revealed to us in the book of Revelation, particularly in chapter 12. While this passage can seem mysterious and confusing at first glance, it contains a powerful and straightforward message: Jesus has defeated Satan, and now we can defeat him too.

The imagery in Revelation 12 is rich with symbolism. We're introduced to three main characters: a woman representing the church, a son representing Jesus, and a dragon representing the devil. The chapter describes a war in heaven, with the archangel Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon and his followers. But here's the crucial point - the victory declared in heaven wasn't due to Michael's efforts. It was because of what Jesus accomplished on earth through His ministry and specifically His death on the cross.

The apostle Paul beautifully captures this triumph in Colossians 2:14-15: "He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us. He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross, and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

This victory wasn't quiet or subtle. It was a total triumph, a public spectacle both on earth and in heaven. When Jesus died, the earth shook, darkness fell at midday, and the temple veil was torn. In the spiritual realm, Satan and his forces were decisively defeated and cast down to earth.

Now, you might be thinking, "If Satan was defeated, why do we still see so much evil in the world?" It's a fair question. The Bible tells us that the devil has been cast down to earth and is filled with fury because he knows his time is short. From our human perspective, nearly 2,000 years doesn't seem "short." But we need to try to view this from God's eternal perspective. The devil's time on earth cannot compare to the eternal reign of Christ.

This brings us to two key reasons why the devil is so angry:

1. He knows his time is short.

2. He knows he cannot defeat the church.

Let's focus on that second point for a moment. Why can't the devil defeat the church? Because God Himself protects it. Just as God protected the Israelites during the Exodus - providing a pillar of fire, parting the Red Sea - He continues to surround and protect His people today.

Psalm 125:1-2 paints a beautiful picture of this protection: "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forevermore."

God fiercely loves and protects His church because it is the bride of Christ. This is why we too are called to love the church, despite its flaws and imperfections. The devil wants us to hate and criticize the church, but we must resist this temptation. Instead, we should pray for the church, serve within it, and worship God together as a community of believers.

Now, the devil isn't powerless. He does have one primary weapon: words. He uses lies, deception, and accusations to attack us. We might not audibly hear the devil's voice, but his influence can come through various channels - false teachers, misguided friends or family members, or our own negative self-talk.

But here's the good news: God has given us even more powerful weapons to combat the devil's attacks. Revelation 12:11 reveals these weapons: "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."

The "blood of the Lamb" represents the truth and power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The "word of their testimony" signifies the truth and power of God's Word. These are our spiritual weapons, and they are incredibly effective.

We see Jesus Himself using the power of God's Word when tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Each time He was attacked, Jesus responded with "It is written," quoting Scripture to rebuke the enemy. We must follow His example, staying rooted in God's Word and remembering the power of the gospel.

The gospel never gets old or loses its power. Whether we encounter it in Scripture, hear it preached, or even see it depicted in media, it has the ability to touch our hearts in profound ways. There's a beautiful anecdote of a family watching an animated retelling of the gospel story. While the young children were initially restless, they became captivated and emotional when the crucifixion scene played out. Even at a young age, they were moved by the sacrificial love of Jesus.

This is the power we have access to when we feel attacked by the enemy. We can remember the cross, what Jesus did for us, and find strength in that simple act of remembrance. When the devil tries to deceive us or accuse us of our sins (past or present), we can look to the cross and see victory and hope.

The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:4, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." The blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony truly have divine power to overcome the enemy's attacks.

As we navigate this spiritual battle, it's important to remember a few key points:

1. It's actually good to make the devil mad. When we live lives that glorify God, it angers the enemy - and that's a positive sign!

2. The devil's time is short because Christ has ultimately defeated him at the cross.

3. The devil cannot defeat the church because God protects and loves it fiercely.

4. We are called to love the church, not criticize or abandon it.

5. While the devil attacks with words of deception and accusation, we have far more powerful weapons in the gospel and God's Word.

Finally, let's be clear: this isn't a rivalry between equal forces. God has no true counterpart. He stands alone, ruling and reigning forever as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The devil is a defeated foe, and his time is running out.

So take heart, dear friends. In Christ, we are on the winning side of history. Let's live boldly, love the church fervently, and wield our spiritual weapons with confidence. Victory is assured, and our hope is secure in Jesus.